Indicating means



1943- H. c. MATTES ETAL 2,328,531

INDICATING MEANS Filed July 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 75 1 an 16 '1 N five]? form Ware fa C. ffe

Aug. 31, 1943. c MATTEs ETAL 2,328,531

INDICATING MEANS Filed July 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 31, 1943 Harold C. Mattesand Louis J.

111., asslgnors to Belmont Radio Chicago,

Wronke, Chicago, Corporation,

111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 24, 1941, Serial No. 403,892

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to indicating means adapted for use on a cabinet or housing for apparatus including indicating mechanism, and in particular to indicating means having a transparent dial member arranged to utilize a panel of the cabinet as a background.

In the cabinets usually provided for apparatus having indicating mechanism, the front or face panel of the cabinet is generally formed with openings therein for receiving the indicating elements such as the needle or dial. Thus in cabinets for radio receiving apparatus the dial member, which has the various broadcasting bands arranged thereon, is received in an opening which usually extends over an appreciable part of the face or control panel. As a result the over-all cabinet structure is somewhat weakened by the greatly reduced ability of the control panel to resist warping or cracking. This disadvantage is particularly objectionable in the cabinets for portable radios in which the opening for the dial member usually covers the greater part of the control panel. Also the cost of cutting the dial opening and the cost of the usual dial parts appreciably increases the over-all cost of the radio.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide in combination with the panel of a housing for apparatus including indicating mechanism, a transparent dial member which utilizes such housing panel as a background for showing up the indicia thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide indicating means for radio receiving apparatus which is mounted on but spaced from the control panel in a manner to entirely eliminate the need for any opening in the panel for the dial member.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision with the panel of a housing for apparatus having indicating mechanism of a. transparent dial member, supported on the panel but spaced therefrom, with the pointer or indicator for the dial member being movable between such member and the panel, the panel constituting a background for the dial member and extending beyond the outer edges thereof so as to be visible both through and to the sides of the dial member.

Another feature of this invention is found in the provision with the panel of the housing for apparatus having indicating mechanism, of premeans adapted to be as a unit and including a transparent dial member spaced from the panel but utilizing such panel as a background for the indicia thereon. An indicating needle for the dial member is supported in the unit for movement across the dial member and between the dial member and the panel, the needle being operatively connected with the apparatus in the cabinet by means adapted to extend through the panel.

Further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the control panel of a radio cabinet showing the invention thereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the inven-' tion looking from the rear and at the left as viewed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen along the line 3-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary'detail view taken along the line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a retaining member for the dial member;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the control panel for a radio cabinet showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is illustrated similarly to Fig. 5 and shows the invention as applied to a clock; and

Fig. 8 is a rear perspective view of the invention showing the transparent dial and indicating needle therefor preassembled as a unit with an escutcheon plate for a radio cabinet.

Referring to Fig. 1 the invention is illustrated with a control panel ill for the cabinet of a radio receiver. The control panel I0 is provided with a one-piece escutcheon plate II, which is extended longitudinally thereof and is composed of a plastic material such as tenite or the like. The escutcheon plate II has a body portion I5 of substantially rectangular form, the control means for the radio receiver such as control knobs l2 and I 3 and push button units I4 being suitably arranged in the lower portion thereof. As is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the plate 1| is of hollow construction with the end portions I6 thereof being of arcuate form and turned inwardly toward the panel l0 so that the open side of the plate is in mating engagement with the panel In. Screws II are extended through the plate II and secured in the panel ill to mount the plate thereon in an obviousmanner.

At the top of each end portion i6 as viewed in Fig. 1, there is provided a railing portion I 8 which projects upwardly from the body portion l5 of the escutcheon plate ll. Each railing portion I8 is comprised of a pair of longitudinally extending rail elements l9 connected together by post members 2| and 22. The post member 22 is provided with an aperture 23, to be later noted, with the post 2| and the rail elements l9 inwardly of the post 22 being cut back to provide a fiat recessed or hearing portion 24 (Fig. 4) defined by a shoulder 26 at the post 23. The recessed or hearing portions 24 are adapted to support a transparent dial member 21 of substantially rectangular shape and of a length adapted to fit between the shoulders 26 in the projecting or railing portions l8.

The dial member 21 (Figs. 2, and 3) may be composed of glass or other transparent material, and extends within the body portion |5 of the plate II, which is provided at each end l6 thereof with an integrally formed inner shelf or extension 28 adapted to be received in a corresponding notch 29 in the dial member 21. From a consideration of Figs. 2 and 4, it is evident that the dial member 21 is held against movement sidewise and forwardly ofthe plate II by virtue of its position in the recessed portion 24, and against movement vertically of the plate II by the engagement of the projections 28 and the notches 29. The dial member 21 is retained in this position on the plate II and against movement rearwardly thereof by means of retaining plates 3|, one of such plates being provided at each end |6 of the escutcheon plate. As shown in Fig. 5 each retaining plate is comprised of a substantially flat body portion 32 having an end 33 of reduced section. The body portion 32 is integrally formed with a laterally extending peripheral rim or spacing flange 34 which is open at the end 33. The end 33 is provided with an aperture 36 corresponding to the aperture 23 in the post member 22, the retaining member 3| being secured to the post 22 and against the plate member 21 by a rivet or securing member 31. Referring to Figs..4 and 5 it is seen that the peripheral rim 34 faces the panel l0 while the body portion 32 is against the dial member 21, the body portion as indicated at 38 being recessed to provide for a slight movement of the retaining member 3| in its retaining position into alignment with the panel.

It is seen, therefore, that the dial member 21 is supported entirely on the escutcheon plate H and held in a fixed position thereon. As shown in Fig. 1 the member 21 has band wave indicia 39 longitudinally arranged thereon between the railing portions I8. Although only indicia for one band wave is illustrated it is to be understood that any number of such indicia may be used since it is apparent that additional indicia can be arranged longitudinally of the plate 21 so as to extend above the railing portions I8 if necessary. Since the dial member 21 is composed of a transparent material, the panel I0 is clearly visible therethrough so as to constitute a background or screen for showing up the indicia 39 on the dial 21. The panel I0 is thus utilized with the dial member 21 to provide an over-all pleasing appearance of the radio, the panel being visible b0th through the member 21 and about the outer edges thereof. In the event a magic eye, indicated at 4|, is used it also is clearly visible through the dial member. A particular backing for the dial member is thus entirely eliminated and an attractive indicating means is assured because of the natural blending of the cabinet panel In with the rest of the cabinet structure.

The pointer or indicator 42 for the dial member 21 has the lower portion 43 thereof (Fig. 3) extended through an opening 44 in the panel l0 and is operatively supported on a portion of the radio apparatus (not shown) for movement longitudinally of the member 21 and between member and the panel Ill. Since the dial member 21 is supported solely on the escutcheon plate II it is seen that only the pointer 42 and radio control elements are extended through the panel l0 so that only a relatively small part of the panel I0 is provided with openings. By virtue of this such substantially solid construction of the panel In, its ability to resist warping andcracking is great- 1y increased.

As illustrated in Fig. 8 the pointer 42' can also be supported entirely on the escutcheon plate so as to further eliminate the opening 44 in the panel I0. Parts in Fig. 8 corresponding to the like parts in Fig. 1 are indicated by like reference characters primed. In the assembly of the needie 42' with the escutcheon plate N there is provided a bracket 46 having a bearing portion 46 at each end thereof for rotatably supporting a corresponding one of the axes 41 and 48 for the control knobs l2 and I3, respectively. Pulleys 48 and 5| are mounted on the axes members 41 and 48, respectively. The bracket portion 50 intermediate the ends 46 thereof is of substantially flat form and in interlocked but slidable engagement with a base portion 55 on the needle 42'. A belt or flexible connectingmember 52 i extended about the pulleys 49 and 5| and is connected as at 53, with the base 55 of the needle 42'.v Assuming the control knob l2 to be the manual tuning knob, and the control knob l3 to be the off and on control for the radio, the pulley 5| would be mounted on the axis 48 so as to be rotatable relative thereto. Thus on turning of the knob |2 the'pulley 49 would drive the pulley 5| with the belt 52 moving the needle 42 across the dial member 21' in an obvious manner. The inner ends of each of the axes members 41 and 48 may be slotted to provide for their operative connection with the radio apparatus through the panel Hi.

In Fig. 6 the dial member 2111 is illustrated as comprised of a circular dial face 56 and a substantially rectangular base or supporting portion 51 integrally formed therewith. The base portion 51 is positioned in a recessed portion 54 formed in the escutcheon plate Ila, and is held in a fixed position thereon by means of the projections 28a, and retaining members 3|a in a manner similar to that described above for the like parts in Fig. 1. With the dial member 21a thus supported the circular dial face 56 extends upwardly from the escutcheon plate Ila spaced from the panel Illa of the radio cabinet but with such panel completely visible behind all portions of the dial face. The indicia 38a are peripherally arranged about the dial face 56 so that the panel Illa serves as the background for making these indicia visible. The indicator needle 58 is mounted for rotation between the dial member 21a and the panel Illa with 'the axis 59 thereof being extended through the panel Illa. The control knobs I21; and. |3a are extended through .both the panel Ilia and the escutcheon plate Ila, which is secured to the panel by the screws H.

In Fig. 1 the invention is illustrated as being applied to a clock having a face panel 6| and hand members 62 suitably supported on an axis member 63 extended through the face panel 6|. The dial member 21a is similar in all respects to the dial member 21a in Fig. 6, the base portion 51 thereof being supported in an escutcheon plate ||b having dial member engaging projections 28b and retaining members 3|b assembled in the manner previously described for the corresponding parts in Fig. l. The numeral indications 64 are peripherally arranged about the face portion 56, the panel 6| constituting the background for the dial face 56. The hand members 62 and 63 are rotated between the dial member 21a and the panel face 6|, which is visible through the member 21a and extends outwardly beyond the outer edges thereo From a consideration of the above description and drawings, therefore, it is seen that the invention provides the combination of a transparber are entirely eliminated. It is evident, of course, that the dial member may be used in combination with panels of varying size since the dial support is mounted directly on the panel, with the panel extending outwardly from the edges of the dial. Because of the transparent visible through said dial portion and outwardly from the marginal edges thereof.

2. In radio receiving apparatus having a cabinet with a control panel,

transparent portion in a spaced relation with said panel portion, said transparent portion havbetween said transparent portion and panel portion being open over the remaining marginal edge of said transparent portion, an indicating member associated with said indicia movable within said space, said panel portion constituting the sole background for said transparent portion and being visible through said transparent portion and to the outside of said remaining marginal edge, with said remaining marginal edge defining the outline of said transparent portion against said panel portion.

4. In combination with a'panel portion of a cabinet for apparatus including indicating mechanism, a transparent dial member, means supporting said dial member on said panel portion in a spaced relation therewith, with said supporting means being connected with said dial member over only a portion of the marginal edge thereof, with the remaining portion of said mar- 5. In radio receiving apparatus having a cabinet with a control panel,

therefrom in a spaced relation with said panel,

with the marginal edge of said dial portion being 7 panel and the space within the confines of said between said transparent member and panel being open at said marginal edge, said panel serving as the sole background for said dial portion and being visible therethrough, with said marginal edge defining the outline of said dial portion against said panel background.

6. In apparatus including indicating mechanism and a cabinet with a panel portion, a pre- 'of said frame means.

- HAROLD G. MA'I'I'ES.

I LOUIS J. WRONKE. 

